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Observation: Salt Lake

Observation Date
1/6/2023
Observer Name
CBrown
Region
Salt Lake
Location Name or Route
PC Ridgeline, Upper BCC
Weather
Sky
Obscured
Precipitation
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Direction
Southwest
Wind Speed
Light
Weather Comments
S2-S5 in the morning, tapering off in the afternoon to S2-S1. Winds were light to moderate on the ridgeline but calm to light once dropping down off the ridge a little ways
Snow Characteristics
New Snow Depth
20"
New Snow Density
Medium
Snow Surface Conditions
Powder
Snow Characteristics Comments
Lots of new snow, hard to tell where the new snow/previous snow started but between 9,000'-9,800' about 24" of new snow by afternoon.
Red Flags
Red Flags
Recent Avalanches
Heavy Snowfall
Wind Loading
Cracking
Collapsing
Poor Snowpack Structure
Red Flags Comments
Lots of signs of instabilities today, at least with the new snow. Some density changes in the new snow; it seemed like the new snow was denser than some of the old cold-protected snow. As soon as you get into the wind zone there were soft wind slabs. By the afternoon, some of the protected areas were starting to form storm slabs, but mostly a dry loose problem. Isolated collapsing underfoot within the new snow and the previous storm's snow, no notable large collapses that would be contributed to PWL. Easy to trigger soft wind slabs on test slopes along ridge lines on the north 1/2, >35*, ~9,800'. Plenty of AST (available snow for transport). Did not investigate any PWL during the storm today.
Avalanche Problem #1
Problem
Wind Drifted Snow
Trend
Increasing Danger
Problem #1 Comments
Along 9k' ridgelines, soft slab wind slabs were forming today. Higher I would anticipate these to be stiffer and more connected. Cornices were actively forming and, there is a lot of soft snow/cornice along ridges approaching the ridges. With continued wind or increased wind, these will be a continued problem.
Avalanche Problem #2
Problem
New Snow
Trend
Same
Problem #2 Comments
Lots of new snow to be entrained in sluff/dry loose and as it gets deeper a storm slab may be an issue in addition to the wind slab. Not to discount the PWL and that being a problem, but I did not investigate the NFL today during the storm, or the possibility of there being an additional PWL in our current snowpack.
Comments
Image of easily triggered connected wind slab on a small test slope and soft sensitive cornice.
Today's Observed Danger Rating
Considerable
Tomorrows Estimated Danger Rating
None
Coordinates